On Oct. 1, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources added nine more invasive plants to the list of species that are illegal to buy, sell, distribute, or plant in Illinois. Eight plants are regulated immediately through the update to the Illinois Exotic Weeds Act: tree-of-heaven, garlic mustard, leafy spurge, sericea lespedeza, Japanese stiltgrass, Amur corktree, black swallowwort, and pale swallowwort. The policy will take effect for Callery pear trees on Jan. 1, 2028. MIPN's Midwest Invasive Plant List has been updated to reflect these regulatory changes. https://mipn.org/invasive-plant-list/ The new species were recommended after being reviewed by the Illinois Invasive Species Council, which includes stakeholders from state and local governments, the nursery and landscaping industry, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Learn more about the Illinois Invasive Species Council at https://dnr.illinois.gov/programs/invasivespeciescouncil.html. Read IL-DNR's full press release at https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/nine-new-invasive-species-regulated-illinois-expansion-exotic-weeds-act Photo of stiltgrass, Michelle Beloskur (fb)

Reminder to register for the Kentucky Invasive Plant Conference! (fb)